Renowned human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju and president of One Love Foundation, Patriot Patrick Eholor has dragged Prof Rhoda Gumus, who was appointed and sworn in by President Muhammadu Buhari as an INEC commissioner to court.
The suit is over Gumus’ alleged membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which is the ruling party.
The suit, filed at Abuja division of Federal High Court, in Suit No FHC/ABJ/CS /234/2022, has the president of Nigeria, Attorney General of the Federation, INEC, Senate President and Prof Rhoda Gumus was filed by Abuja based lawyer, Samuel Ihensekhien Jnr on behalf of Deji Adeyanju and Patriot Patrick Eholor and is seeking for 5 distinct reliefs and other ancillary/mandatory consequential injunctions in that regard.
Recall that a few days ago, President Muhammadu Buhari conveyed the name of Prof Gumus to the Nigeria Senate for confirmation as an INEC commissioner.
In his reaction, Deji Adeyanju questioned the rationale for the appiontment of Prof Rhoda Gumus, though he recognised Prof. Gumus professional capabilities.
Adeyanju stated that the nomination and consequent swearing in of Prof Rhoda Gumus and mostly her swearing in by President Buhari nomination runs contrary to the provisions of Paragraph 14 of Part 1 of the Third Schedule to the Constitution as amended by Section 30, Act No 1 of 2010, which prohibits the appointment of a member of a political party as an Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Commissioner.
He wrote “Note that precisely on March 27, 2021, Prof Gumus registered as a card carrying member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as evidenced in a letter from Deji Adeyanju of concerned Nigeria written to the Senate of Nigeria, to stop her appointment as INEC commissioner.
The letter also pointed that this development has taken a disturbing pattern, and further reads, “A few months ago, President Buhari nominated Ms. Lauretta Onochie as an INEC Commissioner.
As at press time, no date, has been fixed for this case.